The New Beginning Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Reviews Episodes One and Two

Video Belongs to Toei.

So, I know I said I'd go back to Kuuga, but as the reviewer I decided to make an executive decision.

With a certain virus still running rampant in the world and idiots doing what idiots do and not making the right choices, the jobs of health care professionals are that much more important, and difficult. So in honor of those who put their lives on the line for our health, I'm putting together this review on one of my favorite Kamen Rider shows, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

So, what is Kamen Rider Ex-Aid? Ex-Aid is about doctors fighting against the Bugsters. These creatures are computer viruses that jump to humans through video games. These doctors have the future in their hands, and have to fight to protect their patients from the virus. But things are not always so simple, as the fight with the Bugsters, as there are other powers in play who have their own goals and ambitions.

Game Start!

Episode 1: I'm a Kamen Rider!

How nice of them to clarify, I wouldn't have realized I was watching a Kamen Rider show without that title.

Anyway, the episode starts on a scene of rain falling with an umbrella resting on the ground. We also get some opening dialogue:

"If heroes exist in this world... then they are the ones."

The scene cuts to the interior of an ambulance where an 8 year old boy named Houjou Emu is being transported after a traffic accident. He's in bad shape so he's admitted quickly, thankfully enough. The narrative continues from here.

"They never give up no matter what adversity they face."

The Doctors rush to save him, some of them aren't sure he's in a condition for surgery. But one of them says that it'll be okay and he swears to save him.

"The heroes... who save lives... always protect us"

The scene fades out and...

Woah man, personal space! Geez, talk about a lack of social distancing.

Anyway, he's hitting against something and shouting to hang in there, at first it looks like he's working on a patient, but actually he's playing a game. This is Houjou Emu, the same little boy we saw in the previous scene grown up. He's now an intern working at the Pediatrics wing of the hospital.

I just gotta say right now, I love this guy. He's not my favorite main Rider, but he's got a good heart and is everything a Doctor should be. As we'll see over the course of the show he tries to do everything he can to help his patients and protect them. He's overall a solid main Rider and fits the themes of this show well. He's a bit more naive, but overall, he's a rather enjoyable character and continues to grow as the series goes.

Anyway, it's now 16 years later and Emu has cleared the level of the game he was playing. However he's not supposed to be sitting around playing games as a woman comes running out of the hospital and grabs him by the ear because its time for his rounds. Emu tries to run off only to trip, offscreen for some reason, and the woman tells him to get his act together. He gets up, leaving the game behind as the narrative continues, this time its clear that its Emu speaking.

"But... I was still unaware..."

The game machine shines and forms a dark cityscape with a towering helix in the center. It shows viruses emerging and infecting people.

"...That humanity was being threatened by an unknown virus."

And yeah, this is genuine creepy as monstrous virus forms are shown. But as they do, figures appear to fight them.

"And that there are real heroes who will save our world."

Unfortunately it doesn't show the theme song here, so I'll discuss that next episode.

Anyway, we are shown a brief shot of the Seito University Hospital, which will be where a lot of the focus will be. Emu is doing an exam on a patient and reports that there isn't anything abnormal. He suggests that instead the kid's lack of appetite is because he's been snacking too much, which the kid denies but yeah he totally was.

The scene then changes to another figure playing the same game and a figure approaches saying that someone is infected and the virus will soon multiply into a new comrade. And we get the first real look at one of the Bugsters, Graphite.

All the monsters and Riders are modeled after types of video games. Graphite in particular is based on hunting games with a dragon motif, so very much a monster hunting theme. It's not necessarily obvious, but I rather enjoy his monster design. He is one of the Generals for the Bugsters who is talking to another character now. He comments that he's thinking about a game being played on this wide field, and it excites him.

Ooh, this guy... you'll see as we continue. This guy is one of the more interesting villains in the show, but not my favorite. We will however see a lot more of him as the show continues. I'm not going to spoil it though.

We cut to the Ministry of Health where the Deputy-Director General is reading a suggestion. Basically he's talking about someone called the Genius Gamer M who a woman is saying may be compatible with the Gamer Driver. However the Director General insists that it won't be necessary as a compatible Doctor will be arriving in Japan soon. He also mentions the tragedy from five years ago and that they can't let it happen again. He opens a case, saying that the future of humanity rests on what's inside. He tells the Woman, Karino Asuna, to restore CR as soon as possible.

So, what's in the case? Guess we'll find out later because it's back to Emu.

Emu opens a door to try and see another patient, only to have clothes thrown in his face. The boy, Souta, is being told that he doesn't have permission to leave. Souta demands to know why he's in the hospital and we get some slapstick when the nurse before stomps on Emu's foot. Apparently Souta is feeling dizzy, but he doesn't like Emu because he has a bloody nose from that fall he took earlier, calling him a half-baked intern.

Well kid, would you rather have a Half-Boiled Detective? I could see if Shoutaro is busy.

Anyway, Emu goes to get the tissue out of his nose and, the kid has somehow escaped in the like two seconds the two of them looked away. The nurse shouts at him to go find Souta and he runs off to try and find him. He finds him outside walking across the street and then of course has to run after him, leading to more shenanigans. However this is actually plot relevant as he is on a cart about to run into Asuna, the woman who had been meeting with the Deputy-Director General.

He manages to avoid her however and kinda flies off in slow motion in a way that may defy the laws of physics. More slapstick happens with Asuna getting hit with a shoe, the cart hitting Emu in the butt, and finally... a belt flying out of the case and hitting the ground along with a device. Souta picks up the device, wondering why it's here, and we get our first look at the transformation trinkets.

These are the Gashats, basically game cartridges, though I've never seen one like that. This one in particular is Mario... I mean Sonic... I mean Mighty Action X. Anyway, Asuna grabs it from Souta and the boy insists that he be allowed to play since the game came on sale today. Asuna tells him that this is no ordinary game and Emu tries to get him back to the hospital. However, Souta has a bad reaction to that and falls to the ground, and Emu sees that there is an odd reaction on his neck.

Asuna pushes Emu out of the way and scans him with a stethoscope, finding that indeed he has Gamer Disease. We now cut to the hospital where Souta is being rushed into an elevator. Asuna hits the buttons in a certain order and they are brought to CR, the Computer Rescue Center where we meet this guy:

This is Kagami Haima, the Director of Seito University Hospital. He goes from the intense look above to happy in a very quick moment, happy to see Asuna as she tells Emu to leave it to them. Haima is surprised that Emu saw the Bugster reaction, and then tells him he saw nothing. This guy has weird mood swings, I'm telling you. Emu insists that he should help because he's Souta's attending physician, and Souta is wheeled off, leaving Emu confused.

Emu has a flashback to when he was a child, remembering the Doctor who saved his life. The Doctor gave him his first game system as a reward for hanging in there. And we get this line which very much helped mold Emu:

"That smile is proof of your health."

Emu gets a determined look, saying that the Doctor saved his life and its now his turn to save people. Souta's now isolated, but its pretty clear that what they've been afraid of is happening. They mention another Kagami, wondering if he's arrived yet, but he should be there soon. Asuna walks off and tells the Director that she's going to find the Gaming Genius M.

In the room, Souta is getting worse, and a monster is starting to emerge from him:

So yeah, the Bugster isn't multiplied enough yet to escape. It goes back into Souta's body and Emu just, walks in despite the fact that Souta is supposed to be isolated. Great job! Emu asks how he's doing, and Souta takes out a keychain of the character from Mighty Action X, Mighty, but hey better than it being Mighty Number Nine right? Souta was looking forward to the game's release that day. Souta is in pain, and Emu recognizes the symptoms. Emu tells Souta that Mighty will beat the boss that his attacking his body and reassures him.

Yes, that is totally not foreshadowing at all.

Anyway, we now cut to the actual release for Mighty Action X by the Genmn Corporation. A man is on the stage apologizing for the long wait. Apparently, this game has been stuck in development hell for five years. And we get introduced to this guy:

Meet Dan Kuroto. I'm not going to go into too much detail right now, but you will either love this guy or want to punch his smug face depending on the day of the week.

Anyway, Mighty Action X is finally done and we see people playing it. However Asuna is also here, figuring that Genius Gamer M will be here. However, somehow Emu has snuck Souta out of the CR and they're at the release event. Okay seriously, CR, work on your security. Asuna demands answers and Emu says that it was his decision as the boy's doctor. Emu says that Souta was stressed out due to waiting for the game, but Asuna reprimands him for doing this when he has no idea what's going on.

Okay, I have to say I do agree with Asuna here. Emu doesn't know what's wrong with Souta beyond some unknown illness, so he has no idea how infectious he might be. He may have just infected everyone at the event. That's not actually what happened mind you, but still.

Emu says that there's no point in curing his body if he loses his smile. When Asuna says that he needs an operation, that makes Emu pause and Asuna goes to take the boy back to the hospital. This goes about as well as you expect, and its starting to aggravate the Bugster in him. See, Emu was technically correct, as stress makes the Bugster multiply. And multiply it does, forming our first monster:

Yeah, it doesn't look like much, but trust me it gets better.

Anyway, everyone is panicking save for Emu and Asuna who are looking at it stunned. Asuna says its an outbreak, and tells Emu to run as they run out into the city again with the crowd. Emu demands to know what she meant by an outbreak and we get this explanation:

"A new type of virus threatens humanity."
"A new type of virus?"
"A computer virus from games directly infects the human body and evolves. That's the Bugster virus. The virus keeps multiplying until finally the Bugster takes over the host's body."

Video belongs to Linkara.

Emu walks forward slowly, thinking that it's now too late for Souta. Asuna however says that there is one way to save him and that's to perform an emergency operation. She opens the case, revealing the Gashat and belt from earlier, saying that they can be used to perform the operation to separate the two. But only if he can transform into a Kamen Rider and she needs to find someone compatible just as the monster comes crashing out of the building again.

Emu remembers what the Doctor had told him and what he told Souta. a change comes over him and he slowly gets up, saying that he will perform the operation, taking the Driver and Gashat. Asuna tells him that it's not a normal game, and now, its Henshin time!

Video belongs to Toei.

So, uh, I might as well talk about this. This is how things work in Ex-Aid, there are several forms or levels, and uh yeah, level 1 is a bit ridiculous looking. I like to think it looks a bit like an oversized Stormtrooper suit with a weird head. However, yeah this is still not a bad form as Ex-Aid is based on platformers and he quickly runs around, avoiding the attacks and jumping on the monster. He summons the Gashacon Breaker, a hammer weapon, and we get his catchphrase:

"I'll clear this with no continues!"

He starts running and jumping around looking for candy to allow him to get stronger. He finds a power up coin that makes him faster and just starts whaling on the monster before finishing it by stomping down hard. Souta is however still infected, and the game isn't over yet, and the virus comes together and we get the monster of the week itself:

And also the footsoldiers which look ridiculous, but so do a lot of things in this show.

Anyway, the Bugster tells him that he can't beat him when he's only level 1 he can't beat him. This is Salty, the boss of Mighty Action X. Emu says that he can handle this, but Asuna seems to insist that he can't control it further. And that's when we get this line:

"Watch how gaming genius M plays."

Yep, that's right, M, the gamer that Asuna has been chasing after, is also Emu. Now it's time, Dai Henshin!

MIGHTY JUMP! MIGHTY KICK! MIGHTY MIGHTY ACTION X!

Oh boy, the actual Rider Designs. These are the goofiest looking Riders in the franchise, and that is saying something. That being said, its a design that works for the gaming motif they were going for. I can see what they were going for and I like that they did it, so props for going with a design that worked. Though that being said I really can't take that helmet seriously. But it at least works.

Anyway, Emu grabs his hammer and just starts kicking the Bugster's butts. It also turns out that it can turn into a sword when he hits the A button, and the Bugster is getting salty (ugh, that pun). He tries to attack Emu but he deftly dodges the attacks, hitting the Bugster again and again with his sword.

Okay, I gotta mention this because I think its cute. Right before the finisher, he holds the gashat up and blows on it like you would an old NES cartridge. Well, I hope it doesn't make it stop working.

Emu pulls his finisher, the Mighty Finisher Strike, and kicks the Bugster to death. We get a game clear and Souta is now fully healed, but a mysterious figure with black and white hair is watching them and another man is in the ruins of the event.

We'll get to you two soon enough.

The episode cuts to a man in a car hanging up a cell phone, saying that Emu is not worth his time. And he also has his own Gamer Driver on the seat next to him.

Emu and Asuna return to CR. Asuna tells him that it's a top secret research station for fighting the Bugsters and then Emu sees a game cabinent, and Asuna undergoes a transformation of her own and is transported into the game cabinent.

So yeah, Asuna isn't her real name obviously. So allow me to formally introduce you to Poppy Pipopapo, who's name I have never been able to pronounce. She tells Emu that there are 10 games that he has to clear in order to save humanity, and we get his name officially, Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

Now, the time has come to meet a man who can cut through anything.

Episode 2: No Thank You to a Second Genius?

Okay, so we actually do start with the theme song, which as usual you can see above, so time to talk theme song. EXCITE is a rather interesting song that's very upbeat and exciting. The lyrics reflect this idea of new beginnings and a new world and kind of this idea of having to live. Its a really good theme in my opinion, but probably not my favorite.

After a recap, we go back to the Ministry of Health where the Deputy Director General is talking with, of course, Dan Kuroto. Apparently he had been the one to develop the Rider system. We also learn that the Ministry of Health is doctoring the information to keep everything secret. And yeah, I can kinda understand that, don't want to create a panic.

We cut back to CR where Poppy is dancing on a screen and Emu just looks at her confused asking what she is. Before she can answer the Director comes in and demands to know why he's here and Poppy says that Emu will be working in CR from now on. The Director then turns around and welcomes him to CR... did I mention this guy has weird mood swings? Anyway, he tells Emu that Poppy was sent by the Ministry of Health as a Kamen Rider navigator to help out, and she startles them and more slapstick ensues. Poppy gives Emu a stethoscope scanner like she used before.

And this is where he enters.

Meet Kagami Hiiro, the son of the Director and the best surgeon in the hospital. And it shows, this guy is basically what you expect out of a surgeon in fiction. He's arrogant, smug, and very sure of his abilities. He says that the CR doesn't need two Doctors, and says no thank you to Emu's presence, taking out his own Gamer Driver.

Now we go back to the villains where Graphite is using the purple device he has to spread the virus across the city. The other man, now identified as Parado, comments that fate is like a puzzle game. Graphite asks if he's sure about this, and Parado says he'll go to greet them. Meanwhile back at the Seito University Hospital, Hiiro is beginning surgery on a patient. We learn that until now he had been at a hospital in America until the Director called him back to be a Rider.

Emu feels that he's not needed because of Hiiro and there's an emergency call that goes right to them. Apparently a man named Rensuke has been infected with the Bugster Virus and as Emu tries to scan him, Hiiro steps out of a car escorted by two nurses in heels. Hiiro quickly determines that indeed, he's infected, and is given his Driver and Gashat.

Henshin!

Video belongs to Toei.

So yeah, Hiiro's game is Taddle Quest. Basically what we've got here is a fantasy sword and sorcery RPG themed Rider. And while he prepares, the monster takes control of his host and we get a new monster form.

Hiiro goes into his level 1 form and his name is Kamen Rider Brave. Poppy tells Emu to transform which he does... and then goes into level 2. Uh, yeah, that's not going to work given it has to be level 1. And yeah, Poppy tells him as much and he goes back to level 1 because he has to be level 1 to separate the Bugster and the Patient. Hiiro insults him and Emu counters by pointing out that he should've gone for the treasure chest, and we get Hiiro's catchphrase:

"There is nothing I cannot cut!"

Which he then demonstrates by cutting the Bugster's top half off and it explodes. Emu jumps up to save the patient, and now our monster of the week truly comes into existence:

Now we can turn to level 2 and... what? A new challenger approaches!

Who this guy is? I'm not going to tell you, you're going to have to find out when we get to it.

Anyway, the new Rider just comes in and kicks their butts before vanishing with the Bugster. Rensuke is of course also in flux like Souta was, and the odd guy with the sunglasses from the end of last episode is watching.

Back at CR, Poppy is telling them more about the Bugster Virus. Basically they now have to beat the Bugster even after separating the two because it will take over the patient's body even after separation. Hiiro of course asks who that strange Rider was, but Poppy has no idea who he was either. Hiiro says to tell him when they find the Bugster and goes to... eat cake. Seriously, but apparently he eats glucose to recover from fatigue, and when Emu comments that he cares more about that than patients, Hiiro says he stays detached from patients. His job is to heal the patients, that is all.

So yeah, there's a bit of conflict of styles between the two Doctors. Hiiro stays detached to avoid getting too involved (this'll be explored more later) while Emu does what he can to bond with the patient and help them. Who's style is better? That's debatable really, but Hiiro really needs to work on his bedside manner.

Emu yells at him that a patient isn't an object, but Hiiro says to not presume anything. This further ties into Emu's character that he cares about patients being happy, saying that he will save the patient. Emu goes and talks to Rensuke, learning that he was going to be married the next week, but Asami changed her mind. So yeah, as I said last time the cause is stress weakening the immune system. When told he has a game disease, Rensuke reacts badly and Emu swears to heal him.

Emu goes to talk to Asami and... hurts his leg offscreen, geez Emu you're really disaster prone. She shows Emu where they were going to have the wedding but says she was scared because she felt like she wasn't good enough. But still, she wants to marry him, but the Bugster now shows up, saying he won't let Rensuke be happy. The Bugster attacks, using magic to capture Asami with vines which hurts Rensuke even more. She is strung up in a... very Christ-like way, geez, subtle much?

Anyway, the Bugster basically wants to kill Rensuke like I said and will take Asami as his queen. Emu transforms and when he tries to go to level 2, the Bugster says that if he does he'll kill Asami. The Bugster then hits Emu with lightning, and Emu is clearly outmatched in level 1. Now, Hiiro shows up, chiding Emu for getting involved with the patient. Now it's his turn to transform, and he goes to level 2 even though the Bugster has a hostage.

"TADDLE WANDER! TADDLE WANDER! TADDLE QUEST!"

Okay, I gotta say, I freakin' love this design. This is the third Rider War series, which I will discuss later, and the third secondary Rider to be a Knight theme for one. I love this suit and the theme, and as a fan of JRPGs like this, I can definitely get behind it. Overall, this is a really good design, even if it has the silliness of the other Riders in Ex-Aid.

But yeah, the Bugster wasn't bluffing as he starts to cast a spell under Asami. Emu gets a speed up coin and jumps up to save her, but Hiiro grabs a sword and slashes the Bugster, revealing the Gashacon Sword. He calls it a scalpel, and reminds us that there is nothing he can't cut and starts fighting the monster. Going outside, Emu finally levels up (must've needed to grind a bit). Hiiro manages to knock the Bugster down but he casts a healing spell on himself.

"I guess I'll have to switch to cryosurgery."

Apparently Hiiro's sword can be ice as well as fire and he just starts hitting the Bugster over and over again, freezing his ability to use magic. Emu tries to use his finisher, but Hiiro manages to get his Taddle Critical Finish it at the last moment and turns away as the Bugster explodes.

Video belongs to TheLonelyIsland.

So yeah, Game Clear, and the wedding is uncancelled, or the cancellation is cancelled or... something. Hiiro says its all a waste of time. The Director offers to put Emu back in just Pediatrics, but Emu decides to stay as a CR Doctor. He doesn't want to leave the patients in Hiiro's hands. Also, they got an apple pie which Hiiro insists on cutting with Emu commenting that the only thing he likes is sweets.

However, things are not quite over as we cut to Genm Corp where the odd black and white haired man tosses money on Kuroto's desk saying that he needs money to develop new games. Kuroto offers him a Gamer Driver and offers them to him, which he takes with a smile.

Final Thoughts

I love this show, there's no way around it. The first two episodes does a good job of setting up the main and secondary Riders as well as the supporting cast. We know just enough about the villains to keep us interested, and it sets up enough mystery to keep us wondering.

Ex-Aid is an interesting take on Kamen Rider as it goes with a job that would be considered an everyday hero becoming a superhero. These Doctors are fighting to protect humanity, and they do what they can to keep that up. It's not quite going to be that simple of course, as we'll see as the show continues. There are many obstacles that stand in their way, and the Bugsters are not the only threat out there.

Who is the mysterious black Ex-Aid? We shall see, whenever I come back to this.